If you love coffee, you’re not alone. Coffee is the most popular drink in the United States and in many other places worldwide. You may wonder if coffee can improve your ability to study and produce good work. Spoiler alert – it seems that it can!
Coffee often gets a mixed reputation – some say it’s good for you, others say it’s not. Curious to find out the truth, Scottish researchers took a deep dive into the science. After sifting through the studies, they landed on a reassuring conclusion: coffee can generally be considered safe for most people, with the bonus of some possible health and productivity perks.
As an online undergraduate student, many of my study sessions begin with coffee. The delicious aroma of brewing coffee and comforting taste always signal it’s time to focus and get down to work!
Let’s discuss why and how you can use coffee to improve your study sessions.
Benefits of Coffee For Studying
Research shows that coffee most likely does provide some cognitive benefits!
Below are three benefits of coffee that could boost your next study session.
1. Increased Concentration and Focus
A 2025 Copenhagen University study concluded that in the right doses, caffeine “acutely enhances attention by improving both reaction time and accuracy.”
2. Improves Mood and Alertness
Coffee has been shown to boost overall mood and alertness, especially if you’re feeling tired. In one scientific study on the effects of caffeinated beverages, in which some participants received regular coffee and others received a placebo, the coffee drinkers had significantly higher ratings.
3. Increases Executive Function
Consumption of coffee in moderation can lead to easier task-switching, decision-making, and more flexible thinking.
How to Best Use Coffee for Studying
How Much Coffee Should You Drink for Studying?
You can get too much of a good thing. According to a 2024 study, “Effects of Coffee on Cognitive Function”, there is a direct relationship between how much coffee you drink and receiving coffee’s optimal cognitive benefit. Apparently, drinking too little or too much coffee can negatively impact performance.
What is the exact right amount of coffee?
The optimal amount of caffeine to improve attention is more than 200mg and less than 400mg. This translates to a minimum of about a cup and a half, or one large cup of coffee. If you use milk or cream, it further dilutes the caffeine, so you would need to drink a bit more than if you are a black coffee drinker. Essentially, the size of your coffee mug and what you put in your coffee do make a difference.
In addition, there is research that adults consuming 3-4 cups a day of coffee (300-400mg) will obtain a health benefit, while other studies conclude that drinking up to 400mg a day of caffeine does not lead to any adverse health effects. This means that the amount of coffee needed to benefit schoolwork is similar to the recommended amount to maintain your overall health.
You should note that most studies also conclude that some groups and individuals have more sensitivity to caffeine. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to how much you should drink. The numbers and amounts given above are more of a standard than a rule.
Be Strategic With Your Timing
Although caffiene will start to hit your system after 15 – 20 minutes, the optimal effects of coffee appear about 1 hour after drinking and last approximately 3-4 hours.
Many people report that drinking coffee too close to bedtime can disrupt their sleep. Only you can judge how coffee affects your sleep and make good decisions about how late is too late. Is that extra sleep before a test more important to you – or, would you rather have that extra last-minute extra hour of studying?
Try a Coffee Nap
What is a coffee nap? A coffee nap consists of taking a quick nap right after drinking a caffeinated beverage. This seemed a bit strange when I first heard about it, but the theory behind it is interesting.
After drinking coffee, it takes 15 to 20 minutes for the caffeine to move through your system and reach its peak effect. If you sleep during this time, the theory is that you will then wake up fully optimized and ready to focus.
This type of short nap amplifies the effect of the caffeine with renewed energy from resting.
Use for Important Tasks Only
The key to using coffee to enhance productivity seems to be to use it in moderation. Like most good things, too much of a good thing can counteract the desired positive effects.
It may be best to keep your coffee pick-me-up for those days when you know you need to study but don’t feel motivated, or to give you an extra burst to make it through those last chapters or reading.
Habit Stacking
Habit stacking is a popular method to add new good habits to already existing routines. If you routinely have a coffee or tea at a certain time of day, you can stack a study or writing session after that time. This not only helps you to be more attentive, but also to overcome resistance to starting a task.
For example: if after dinner every night you take a short walk, come home, make yourself a coffee, then settle in to work. When it becomes part of a routine, it becomes easier to get into the mode for deep work.
Possible Drawbacks of Drinking Coffee
Coffee still isn’t for everyone. In the USA, The FDA says coffee’s fine in a healthy diet – just don’t overdo it, especially if you’re pregnant or have health issues. If you do choose to use coffee as a study aid, you may want to do so in moderation.
Below are four reasons why people may choose not to use coffee for studying.
1. Anxiety and Jitters
The high caffeine content in coffee can cause some people to experience side effects such as jitters or a feeling of anxiousness.
2. Caffeine Crash
Coffee can cause both short-term and long-term withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, tiredness and irritability that can differ in intensity.
3. Sleep Disruption
Disruptions in sleep patterns are a highly reported side-effect of too much caffeine. Some people have very mild sleep disruption from drinking caffeine, while others avoid drinking coffee anywhere near bedtime!
4. Heartburn and Other Stomach Issues
In 2013, researchers in Japan reviewed past studies and added their own study, concluding that coffee wasn’t tied to common causes of heartburn. Even so, plenty of people insist that coffee brings on stomach discomfort. For now, the question remains unresolved. This illustrates why, no matter what the research may say, everyone is different, and it’s important to experiment to find out what works best for you.
Making Coffee for Studying Work for You
Coffee can be used as a kick starter to give you the motivation you need to start a study session. It can also assist with your mental clarity when you most need it. Overall, coffee can be a great addition to your study motivation tool box.
Following guidelines set out in scientific studies while still experimenting to see how coffee and caffeine work best with your mind and your body seems to be sound advice. As with almost everything else, moderation is key.
That said, I’m definitely going to continue to make coffee a part of my study routine. I’m curious what you have to say about your experiences with coffee – comment below with how you use coffee in your study routine!
If you found this post helpful, sign up for my email list below and follow me on Instagram and Pinterest to join our online student community – you don’t have to go through your study journey alone!
